Positive response to Christmas Island space facility

The Australian Federal Government says the Asia-Pacific Space Centre is still considering whether to set up a space launch facility on Christmas Island.

An environmental impact study is being considered for the facility, which would probably involve launching satellites.

The Government is more confident about this proposal than those mooted for north Queensland and Gunn Point, near Darwin.

The Space Activities Act was passed in the Federal Parliament late last year, clearing the way for the project.

A spokesman for the Federal Territories Minister says it is up to the Space Centre whether it goes ahead, but the facility would be worth hundreds-of-millions of dollars, and would probably generate employment on the island from the construction period onwards.